Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics/Pharmacokinetics: Etoricoxib is well absorbed from gastrointestinal tract after oral dose. Peak plasma concentration occurred in about 1 hour in fasted adults; food delays absorption by about 2 hours. Plasma protein binding is about 92%. At steady state the half-life of etoricoxib is about 22 hours. Etoricoxib is extensively metabolized with less than 2% of a dose recovered in the urines in the parent drug. The major route of metabolism is via cytochrome P450 isoenzymes including CYP3A4 to form the 6'-hydroxymethyl derivative of etoricoxib, which is then oxidized to the 6'-carboxylic acid derivative, the major metabolite. Both are inactive or only weak cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor. Excretion is mainly via the urine (70%) with only 20% of a dose appearing in the faeces. Studies in animals suggest that etoricoxib may cross the placenta and that some is distributed into breast milk.
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